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Design Education and developing the design education pipeline is a core objective of the Design Support programme.
Career Awareness

Fostering design skills and competencies in the youth is integral to the future success of the region. We need a strong cohort of visual designers, engineers and industrial designers to translate ideas into tangible products and services.

To promote the uptake of careers in the design sector the CDI engages with High Schools in the following ways:

The Africa A+ Schools network is an initiative that supports member schools in nurturing their students’ creativity, primarily through the arts, in the belief that this is what children need for lifelong success.

The network is a partnership between the CDI and Oklahoma A+ Schools (OKA+) and is funded by Standard Bank and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT).

Africa A+ Schools views the nurturing of creativity in schools as one way of responding to South Africa’s social and economic challenges. To alleviate unemployment, poverty and social injustice the country needs people with an entrepreneurial and problem-solving mindset who have individual agency and can come up with innovative solutions. An entrepreneur is a person who can see and create opportunities where others mostly only see a problem.

For children to grow up to be entrepreneurs, innovators and opportunity makers, they need to be taught from an early age to develop their creativity and imagination so that they can become active citizens who contribute to solving problems and creating new value.

The Africa A+ Schools network offers member schools professional development and ongoing on-site support that enables the schools to think, plan and facilitate so that children can develop the skills that prepare them for lifelong success. Research shows that A+ member schools achieve better academically, teachers are more motivated, learning is facilitated in collaborative and hands-on ways, and the children are excited about coming to school.

The first three Africa A+ member schools – ABC Pre-primary in Lansdowne, iThemba in Capricorn and Chameleon Campus in Sybrand Park – have begun to receive support to prepare teachers to think more creatively about how to present their curriculum in collaborative and hands-on ways that will get the learners excited about learning. This support is being provided through a group of project Fellows or facilitators consisting of arts practitioners from a range of disciplines and ECD specialists.

Three new member schools will join the A+ network in late-2016. If you an ECD centre who is interested in applying for this opportunity please contact anya.morris@thecdi.org.za

There are many exciting careers in the broad field of design. The aim of this poster is to give you information on design related career options to help you think about an area that appeals to your interests and strengths. Use the directory to find art and design centres you can attend while you are at school, and tertiary colleges and universities to apply toafter matric.

Download a summary of the Western Cape Design Strategy here – the vision for the Western Cape to use design in all its applications, to ‘do better and more efficient business’ and create an inclusive economy.